Egal, the company behind Pads on a Roll, has secured $4 million in Series A funding to expand its mission of making period products freely available in public restrooms. The round was led by the Bauer Family Office’s Technology for Humanity, with participation from the Slater Technology Fund, the Catalytic Impact Foundation, Princeton Alumni Angels, and other investors.
The Massachusetts-based company is advancing period product accessibility by installing its patented pad dispensers directly in bathroom stalls. Their latest expansion brings the solution to airport bathrooms across the United States and United Kingdom, addressing a critical need for travelers who may be unable to leave terminals for hours.
“Period products could – and should – be delivered as reliably and conveniently as toilet paper. It’s high time we made this much easier for people on the move,” said Penelope Finnie, co-founder and CEO of Egal.
The company’s approach mirrors toilet paper logistics, working with established distributors like Staples, Grainger, and HD Supply. Their dispenser system takes less than five minutes to install, and restocking is completed within seconds. This efficient design has enabled Egal to expand its presence to over 1,700 schools, as well as libraries, museums, zoos, parks, and now airports and stadiums across multiple countries.
Denver International Airport has implemented Egal’s products throughout its largest concourse and in all bathrooms serving its 40,000 employees. In the UK, the system is already available for employees at London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Newcastle Airports, with plans to expand to public bathrooms for travelers. The company’s global footprint extends across the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Poland, South Africa, with upcoming launches in the UAE.
“Many airports are undergoing major renovations to improve the customer experience right now,” noted Finnie. “We are proud to be part of their enhancement plans so travelers and airport professionals can manage their periods with dignity, privacy and ease.”
The new funding will support hiring initiatives, increased market outreach, and continued global expansion. The company’s achievements have been recognized with both the 2024 Mass Innovation Health Tech Award and the 2024 Innovation Award at Women’s Health Innovation Summit Europe in Basel, Switzerland.
Egal’s expansion comes at a time when period poverty and access to menstrual products are increasingly recognized as public health issues. What began as a response to state mandates requiring free period products in schools has evolved into a broader movement to make these essential items as readily available as toilet paper in all public restrooms.
